TPLTMOE – Chapter 36

They weren't supposed to stay overnight on the island, but the Omega's heat had come on fiercely.

Jiang Zhiyu rarely lost control, but when he had pinned the man in his arms for a deep kiss, the damp heat had glued their lips together, making it impossible to pull away.

They had fooled around until midnight, and in the end, he simply held him and dozed off in the car for a while.

Now, the car was filled with the fresh scent of pheromone blockers, and his rationality and composure had fully returned.

The car was already crossing the sea bridge, heading toward the mainland opposite West Bay.

A crowd had gathered at the bridge exit—today was the third geological assessment of the area.

Originally, Jiang Zhiyu was supposed to personally inspect the survey results on-site, but now, he had something far more important to attend to.

When the crowd saw the Rolls-Royce approaching from the bridge, they assumed Jiang Zhiyu had already made an early inspection of the island. They stood respectfully on either side, clearing a parking spot for the car.

Tang Bei was among them, already wearing a bright smile as he waited.

But the black car swept past the crowd like a gust of wind, not slowing down in the slightest. Instead, it sped off in the direction of the coastal boulevard.

Tang Bei's expression stiffened. Only later did someone inform him that President Jiang wouldn't be coming today and instructed the others to conduct the survey with the highest standards.

Following the address Qin Chengyue had sent last night, Zhao Qin parked the car downstairs at the apartment.

Jiang Zhiyu wrapped Ling Ran tightly in his suit jacket before carrying him out of the car.

Qin Chengyue was about to leave for work when the doorbell rang. Thinking it was Ling Ran returning, he hurried to open the door.

"Xiao Ran, you—"

Outside stood a tall, strikingly handsome man with an icy demeanor and an oppressive aura.

In his arms was a petite Omega, their upper body and face concealed by the suit jacket. Only two slender legs were visible, hooked securely at the knees.

Qin Chengyue immediately sucked in a sharp breath and quickly stepped aside to let them in.

Jiang Zhiyu gave him a slight nod in acknowledgment before carrying the Omega into the living room.

"Which one is his room?"

Qin Chengyue, having closed the door, pointed. "That one."

Jiang Zhiyu replied in a low voice, "Thank you."

Then he carried the man into the room.

Qin Chengyue was still reeling from the shock. Jiang Zhiyu showing up at his place was one thing, but why did Ling Ran look so utterly drained?

Like he'd been sucked dry of all vitality.

Still worried, Qin Chengyue quietly peeked into Ling Ran's room and saw Jiang Zhiyu bending over the bed to gently lay the Omega down—only for a pair of pale, delicate arms to loop around his neck.

Qin Chengyue's eyes widened in shock.

!

So Ling Ran was the one sucking people dry.

He didn't dare watch any longer and quickly retreated to the living room, busying himself with wiping tables and rearranging the sofa—anything to look occupied.

Jiang Zhiyu pulled the Omega's arm from around his neck, noticing how his lips pursed in discontent even in sleep. He leaned down to press a kiss to those lips before finally leaving the room.

The apartment wasn't large, decorated in a cozy European cream-style that made it warm and livable.

Someone was bustling about in the living room, though it was unclear what they were busy with.

When Jiang Zhiyu walked over to the sofa, Qin Chengyue sprang up like a rocket launching.

"Good morning, President Jiang!"

"Mn," Jiang Zhiyu tried to appear less stern. "No need to be nervous."

Qin Chengyue nodded vigorously. "Not nervous at all! I'm totally not nervous!"

In truth, he was terrified out of his mind.

He had never been this close to Jiang Zhiyu before, having only occasionally heard of the man's formidable reputation.

That overwhelming, oppressive aura made it impossible to meet his gaze, leaving one wanting to bow in submission.

Now, Qin Chengyue felt an extra layer of admiration for Ling Ran—how bold must he be to secretly be with Jiang Zhiyu? Truly the Omega among Omegas.

"I'll have to trouble you to take care of him during this time," Jiang Zhiyu said. "He likely won't be staying here much longer."

Qin Chengyue immediately tensed. "Is Xiao Ran moving out?"

"Not now," Jiang Zhiyu replied. "And don't mention it to him yet."

"Of course I'll take care of him! He's my best friend, and I'm his best friend too," Qin Chengyue said. "But I only found out later about his illness. Xiao Ran didn't want me to worry, so he kept a lot of things to himself and never told me."

Jiang Zhiyu: "From now on, you can tell me about anything concerning him."

Qin Chengyue hesitated before asking, "Will telling you actually help?"

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze darkened as it settled on him. "It will."

Qin Chengyue instinctively sensed the truth in those words but still said, "But I'd rather respect Xiao Ran's wishes first."

At the very least, he wanted to wait until Ling Ran woke up and clarified things himself. The Jiang family's affairs were too complicated, and deep down, he didn't want Ling Ran getting entangled again.

Jiang Zhiyu: "That's fair."

Glancing at the time, Qin Chengyue realized he'd definitely be late if he didn't leave now.

"President Jiang, I'm in a hurry to get to work. Please lock the door on your way out. Also, I left breakfast for Xiao Ran—if he wakes up, remind him to eat."

With that, Qin Chengyue rushed out the door.

He wasn't worried about Jiang Zhiyu—there was nothing in his modest home that would catch the man's interest anyway.

On the dining table sat a simple breakfast: a steamer basket of still-warm xiaolongbao and a bowl of stomach-nourishing millet porridge. Jiang Zhiyu poured a glass of water and returned to Ling Ran's room.

The Omega was buried deep in the soft bedding, having somehow bundled Jiang Zhiyu's suit jacket into a makeshift pillow, his cheek resting against it as he slept soundly.

Jiang Zhiyu set the glass on the nightstand and gently tugged the jacket free from under his face. His fingers slipped into the pocket and retrieved a small black velvet box.

The little Omega had slept little last night, so now he remained pliant and unresisting no matter how he was touched.

Jiang Zhiyu helped him out of his pants, then wrapped an arm around his waist to lift him from the blankets.

Bringing the glass of water to those swollen, alluring lips, he pressed lightly.

"Open your mouth."

The rim of the glass parted his lips, dampening the flushed surface before his tongue finally peeked out for a tentative lick. Then, obediently, he parted them just enough to drink.

Jiang Zhiyu lowered his gaze, staring at that faintly visible pink tongue as the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.

When he'd had his fill, he bent down to lick away the stray droplets of water that had spilled around.

His tongue kept darting back and forth until he finally sucked that sweet, fragrant little tongue into his mouth, holding it, teasing it, savoring it like a delicacy.

The Omega's body went limp, slowly, slowly, sliding down into the blankets.

Jiang Zhiyu stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. His shirt was crumpled at the chest, stained with a bit of grape juice. He sent Xu Guanyi a message.

[Jiang Zhiyu]: Gland photo.jpg

[Jiang Zhiyu]: He secretly gave himself an inhibitor shot the day before yesterday.

[Xu Guanyi]: Aside from some redness, it doesn't look like there's anything wrong. In fact, it seems a bit more developed than before. But that mark on it—did you bite him?

[Jiang Zhiyu]: Mhm.

[Xu Guanyi]: After covering the mark, he still let you bite him? Your pheromones do help treat his hormonal imbalance and further stimulate the development of his reproductive cavity, but they'll also make him heavily dependent on you. At this point, his compatibility with Jiang Shengyi's pheromones might even be lower than with yours.

[Jiang Zhiyu]: Can an Omega and an Enigma undergo pheromone compatibility testing?

[Xu Guanyi]: Of course not. Omegas aren't even considered ideal partners for Enigmas to begin with, so the results would be meaningless

anyway.

Meaningless?

Jiang Zhiyu's eyes darkened.

[Xu Guanyi]: If you're worried, bring him in for a thorough checkup once he's feeling better in a couple of days.

Jiang Zhiyu locked his screen.

A soft knock sounded at the door. He went to open it and found Zhao Qin standing there with Song Yi, both carrying bags full of groceries.

Once inside, Song Yi immediately headed to the kitchen to start cooking, while Zhao Qin began restocking the empty fridge with the nourishing ingredients they'd bought.

Jiang Zhiyu stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, phone to his ear, gazing out at the Puyu River that cut through the heart of Haishi. Across the water, a cluster of skyscrapers rose into the sky, with the tallest and most central one being the Jiang Corporation Tower.

His secretary was reporting the results of this morning's survey of the West Harbor district. Some of the indicators had been tested separately, and the findings had been sent directly to Jiang Zhiyu.

As the island closest to the mainland, West Harbor's deep-water offshore area was more than capable of accommodating any cruise or cargo ship.

The West Harbor district wasn't suited for tourism—it was best used as a port. The collaboration with Tangbei was just a front, a way to make the public believe he was trying to build a second Lanyria.

"Meeting in half an hour." With that, he hung up the phone.

Before leaving, he stepped into the room one last time. The person on the bed was curled up with his coat, sleeping soundly. Not wanting to disturb him, Jiang Zhiyu turned to Song Yi and said, "Let me know when he wakes up."

Song Yi nodded. "Don't worry, President Jiang. I'll take good care of Mr. Ling."

***

Ling Ran drifted in and out of sleep, his mind foggy and heavy.

By the time he finally opened his eyes, the sky outside had already dimmed into twilight.

He forced himself to sit up. His upper body was still fully clothed, but his smooth legs were bare against the sheets.

His brain short-circuited for a moment. Slowly, he lifted the blanket—beneath it, he was only wearing a pair of plain white underwear, and beneath his hips lay a sleek black suit jacket.

The stark contrast between black and white was too vivid. A flood of chaotic memories surged into his mind like a raging beast. His head throbbed painfully, and he clutched it, swaying slightly.

Then, he noticed something strange at the back of his neck. Reaching behind, he touched his gland—though it was covered with a scent patch, a dull, tingling ache pulsed relentlessly beneath it.

It hurt, but it also felt... good.

His eyes widened. He knew this sensation all too well.

His gland had been bitten—hard—and flooded with an overwhelming amount of enigma pheromones.

Fragmented memories flickered in his mind: the coastal highway, the sports car, the seaside, the blazing sunset, the kiss—

Ling Ran: "!"

A kiss?!

He immediately covered his lips with his hand, only to wince as a sharp sting shot through the tender flesh.

Especially the plump, swollen center—his lip pearl—which felt like it had been savored a thousand times over. One moment, it was treated like fragile treasure, kissed so gently it might melt; the next, it was bitten ruthlessly, as if someone wanted to devour it whole.

The result? His entire mouth burned with a searing pain. His tongue ached faintly, and his mouth still felt full—invaded, ravaged, stuffed to the brim.

Ling Ran's eyes welled up. Clutching his lips, he nearly burst into tears.

He... he felt like he'd been kissed to ruin...

Outside, Qin Chengyue was chatting with someone. Ling Ran quietly got out of bed, pulled on his pants, and sprayed himself with scent blockers to mask the strong alcohol clinging to him. Then, he finally stepped out of the room.

Qin Chengyue, mouth full of braised pork, hurried over when he heard the noise.

"Xiao Ran! You're finally awake! Did hunger wake you up? Song Yi's cooking is amazing—come try it!"

Ling Ran stared blankly at the man bustling around the dining table. "Song Yi?"

Song Yi smiled at him. "Long time no see, Mr. Ling."

"But... why are you here?"

Qin Chengyue nudged him toward the table. "President Jiang sent him to take care of us. The company's so generous—they even provide new employee benefits, making sure we're well-fed and comfortable!"

Ling Ran was pushed into a chair. The table was laden with eight dishes, their rich aromas making his stomach growl audibly.

Song Yi handed him utensils, and Ling Ran murmured, "Thank you."

But he still didn't understand—why was Song Yi here?

Qin Chengyue served him some food: "All these were sent by Zhao Qin, even the vegetables are fresh imports. Song Yi said he'll cook delicious meals for us every day from now on. Hurry up and eat, it's even better than restaurant food."

Ling Ran also stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and asked in confusion: "But... why?"

Why would Zhao Qin send them good food? Why would Song Yi come to take care of them?

Qin Chengyue glanced at his swollen lips, then coughed awkwardly and looked away: "You don't remember anything?"

Ling Ran's ears burned red.

He remembered some things—remembered someone coaxing in his ear, telling him to open his mouth wider, though he couldn't quite make out the words, only that the voice was deep and intoxicatingly persuasive.

He also remembered being held like a child with his legs spread apart, trembling and crying, yet still not being released.

...

The things he remembered were unspeakable, and the things he could speak of, he didn't remember.

Seeing his flushed cheeks, Qin Chengyue leaned in and whispered: "How long has this been going on between you and Jiang Zhiyu? I actually had no idea."

Ling Ran thought carefully: "Not that long."

It was only recently that he found out about his condition.

"You hid it pretty well—even I didn't notice. I thought you really saw Jiang Zhiyu as an uncle, but turns out you saw him as a husband, huh?"

Ling Ran was shocked: "Huh?"

Qin Chengyue patted his shoulder: "Come on, spill it. How far have you two gone? Hugging? Kissing? Or... have you already slept together?"

Ling Ran grew even more confused: "What are you talking about?"

Qin Chengyue pinched his cheek: "Still trying to hide it from me? Hmph, I already know everything! You and Jiang Zhiyu have been together for a while, right?"

Ling Ran quickly covered his mouth, afraid Song Yi might hear: "Y-you, come with me."

He pulled Qin Chengyue into the room and closed the door. Only then did his bright, watery eyes meet Qin Chengyue's as he said: "Chengyue, you've misunderstood. Mr. Jiang and I aren't in that kind of relationship. We're not together."

Qin Chengyue crossed his arms and leaned against the door, eyeing him skeptically: "Really?"

"Really," Ling Ran nodded emphatically. "I'm sick, remember? Initially, it was Mr. Jiang who took me to the hospital for tests. At that time, I was still engaged to Jiang Shengyi, and Mr. Jiang saw me as a junior, so he's been looking after me."

Qin Chengyue pointed at his swollen lips: "Does looking after a junior involve kissing them?"

Ling Ran's face turned crimson as he covered his mouth: "I think... it was probably to help treat my condition."

"Help treat your condition? How would Jiang Zhiyu do that?"

Ling Ran patiently explained—how he developed his condition, how Jiang Zhiyu helped cover his mark, how he helped alleviate his heat—telling Qin Chengyue everything truthfully.

Though his description was brief, omitting many details.

Qin Chengyue still seemed doubtful: "He'd be that kind? Actually helping you with your condition?"

Ling Ran nodded: "Mr. Jiang is very kind. He even gave me a suppressor, but it was too expensive. I'm still trying to figure out how to pay him back. Maybe he's worried my condition will worsen, which would prevent me from working and paying him back sooner."

Qin Chengyue's lips twitched as he patted Ling Ran's head.

Ling Ran was academically brilliant, but when it came to matters of the heart, he was still quite naive.

"The Jiang family has vast wealth—do you really think he'd care about your little debt?" Qin Chengyue waved his hand dismissively, speaking like a big spender. "How much was that suppressor of yours anyway? I'll just pay it off for you."

Ling Ran: "Around two or three million, I think."

Qin Chengyue: "..."

He hugged Ling Ran tightly, giving him an encouraging look. "Wish I could help, but my brother monitors my bank account constantly. He never lets me hold that much money at once."

Ling Ran already knew how strict Qin Shixing was with Chengyue, so he hadn't expected him to share the burden in the first place.

The two chatted in the room for a while longer before Qin Chengyue suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right—next month, the school's holding a freshman orientation. Professor Li invited a few alumni who've already started working to come back and share their experiences. We were both invited. Wanna go?"

Ling Ran nodded. "Sure."

Qin Chengyue: "Great, I'll let the professor know you're in. We'll go together."

After dinner, Qin Chengyue mentioned that Jiang Zhiyu had given him two days off, so he could rest at home tomorrow.

Ling Ran wanted to text Ning Xinqiao but realized his phone was missing. He checked his pockets, then searched the bed and the suit jacket—nothing.

Qin Chengyue suddenly recalled, "Wait, could it be with President Jiang? He answered your phone when I called last night."

Ling Ran had no memory of that, but he was certain his phone wasn't with him.

He grabbed a spare phone and, after some hesitation, sent Jiang Zhiyu a text:

[Mr. Jiang, this is Ling Ran.]

[Do you happen to have my phone?]

No reply came—instead, a call rang through.

Ling Ran's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. Making sure Qin Chengyue and Song Yi weren't paying attention, he slipped back into his room before daring to answer.

"Hello?" Ling Ran's voice was soft. "Mr. Jiang?"

A deep, slightly weary voice came through, mingled with background chatter and the faint crackle of static, sending a tingle down his ears. "When did you wake up?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

Song Yi had actually messaged him the moment Ling Ran regained consciousness, but it took a while longer before two more texts finally arrived.

The Omega, now fully conscious, remained polite and proper, as if the person who had been clinging to him yesterday, whining and kissing him, wasn't him at all.

He sure knew how to flip the switch faster than anyone.

Ling Ran replied, "I just woke up. After eating, I realized my phone was missing."

Jiang Zhiyu asked, "Do you feel any discomfort in your body?"

Ling Ran wanted to say yes—his mouth hurt.

But saying that would sound too strange, like a complaint or a coquettish whine, and he couldn't bring himself to voice it.

Besides, he remembered reading in a document before that information exchange could also occur through saliva during kissing. Mr. Jiang must have given him a lot of pheromones, which was why his mouth hurt so much.

"My gland... feels a bit uncomfortable."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice grew slightly more composed. "How so? Does it hurt?"

Ling Ran touched the back of his neck and added, "It's not exactly pain. More like... a bit sore and swollen? It's hard to describe."

"Press it lightly with your fingers," came the slightly commanding tone. "Gently."

Ling Ran obediently complied. An indescribable tingling sensation spread from the back of his neck, traveling down his slender spine. His legs nearly gave out, and he almost collapsed on the spot.

A soft, involuntary whimper escaped his throat, which the person on the other end of the call immediately caught.

Jiang Zhiyu asked, "What does it feel like?"

Ling Ran's eyes grew slightly warm. "Very numb.

"Just numb?" Jiang Zhiyu sounded like he was seriously discussing a medical condition. "No pain?"

Ling Ran focused carefully again. It really wasn't pain—otherwise, he would have already been in tears.

It was more like... being filled to the brim, swollen to the point of numbness.

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